Supreme Court Dismisses PIL Seeking 50% Women Representation In Judicial Services, Govt Panels
The Supreme Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking earmarking of up to 50% of vacancies for women in judicial services as well as in government‑panel lawyering positions, including state and central panel‑counsel and law officers.
What the PIL sought
The petitioners, led by Mani Munjal and others, sought directions to:
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Reserve up to 50% of judicial appointments at the Supreme Court and High Courts for eligible women candidates.
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Reserve 50% of posts in Higher Judicial Services and Provincial Judicial Services for women, including 50% of promotion‑vacancies from lower to higher judicial services.
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Provide 50% women representation in government‑panel‑counsel and law‑officer posts at district, High Court and Supreme Court levels.
Supreme Court’s reasoning
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, held that it would not be “expedient” for the Court to stipulate such a norm judicially except in specific, fact‑driven situations. The Court observed that steps to enhance women’s representation in the judiciary were already underway, but “change does not come within a day”, and refused to fashion a mandatory 50% reservation formula through writ jurisdiction. While dismissing the PIL, the Court allowed the petitioners to file a comprehensive representation before the executive and other stakeholders for policy‑level consideration.
